Industry veterans join Absurd Ventures, a new company by Rockstar Games Co-Founder. Noteworthy hires and findings of recent trademark filings suggest potential projects. Read on to know more.
Former Rockstar Veterans and More Join Rockstar Games Co-Founder's New Venture
Absurd Ventures Hires Key Media Players
Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser's new venture, Absurd Ventures, brought together several media industry veterans, including former colleagues from Rockstar. Dan Houser left Rockstar Games in March 2020 for undisclosed reasons and went on to establish Absurd Ventures LLC and Absurd Ventures in Games LLC in February 2021.
As reported by French online publication BeGeek, GTA 5 and RDR2 senior writer Michael Unsworth assumed the role of Head of Story in the new studio. Former Rockstar writer, producer, and radio personality Lazlow Jones was revealed to be listed as a co-founder of Absurd Ventures.
In a report by Rockstar Intel, Adam Tedman, former Vice President of New Media at Rockstar, assumed the role of Head of Marketing at Absurd Ventures in mid-2023, following a brief stint at Saber Interactive. Greg Borrud, co-founder of Pandemic Studios (known for Mercenaries) and a recent General Manager at Niantic (creators of Pokémon GO), joined Absurd as Head of Games in early 2023. Likewise, it was reported that Dan Houser recruited Creative Artists Agency veteran Wendy Smith as Absurd Ventures’ COO.
Recent Trademark Filings and Potential Projects
Speaking to entertainment news outlet Variety about the challenges of introducing new IPs, Wendy Smith emphasized Absurd Venture's strategy to undertake smaller-scale projects. This includes TV shows, podcasts, and graphic novels, alongside traditional video games. In mid-2023, Houser shared the studio's mission of "building narrative worlds, creating characters, and writing stories for a diverse variety of genres" across different mediums.
As reported by Insider Gaming, Houser recently filed trademarks for two potential projects under Absurd Ventures – "AMERICAN CAPER" and "A BETTER PARADISE." These trademarks, filed on July 28, 2023, fall under the category of "downloadable computer software."
Sources:
BeGeek: Michael Unsworth and Lazlow Jones joining Absurd Ventures
Insider Gaming:Dan Houser’ New Game Studio Files Two New Trademarks
Rockstar Intel: Rockstar Games co-founder new studio hires other GTA veterans, teases announcements
Variety: Rockstar Games Co-Founder Dan Houser’s Absurd Ventures Taps CAA Vet Wendy Smith as COO
